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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Ceramic Bearing upgrade on ZT's
- Thread starter mobilerd
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2008
- Messages
- 728
Yes. I've done it to my three 0562s, two 0452s and a 0095.
The Taco style ceramic bearing from eBay seller "zone_305". These are 12 ceramic bearings housed in CNC'd solid brass and come with stainless steel liner washers for the bearing well in the frame. ZT's KVT system has only 7 bearings housed in nylon. The Taco system is smooth, perfect fit and finish, perfect centering. The KVT action is very smooth and the difference between the two in this regard is almost imperceptible. Maybe the Taco style is a tiny bit smoother, maybe.
The real benefit is the bearings roll on the stainless steel washers and NOT on the titanium frame. The KVT system rolls directly on the ti frame...not good. With the Taco system, lateral forces are distributed more evenly among greater number of bearings making a stronger pivot, and galling of the titanium frame is eliminated. That means the action will stay smooth and the blade will stay centered over the long term.
Another benefit, the ceramic bearings are nestled deeper in the brass housing compared to KVT's steel bearings in nylon. This reduces the gap between the blade and the bearing assembly which means it prevents debris from entering the pivot better than the KVT system. I've deliberately shoved my knife into beach sand and garden dirt. While fine debris can still enter, it is better than the KVT.
The best part, the maker sells extra stainless steel liner washers of varying thicknesses (he provided me a set of 4 thickness ranging from 0.32 to 0.42). Galling is inevitable over time, but now I can simply replace the washers IF that ever happens. Also having washers of varying thickness has given me an additional way of tuning action and centering. All of my knives fitted with this system are tuned to perfection. CAVEAT he lists the washers on eBay but doesn't clearly describe what you are getting. I thought I was buying a standard thickness but was happily surprised with the assortment. Not sure if he made a mistake or what. He also sells extra ceramic bearings.
I'm a Hinderer XM-18 fan and have several Gen 6s in my collection. I wish zone_305 will start making these for them, because at this point his system has elevated my ZT0562Ti above my best Hinderers. The action is so smooth, fast and crisp.
The Taco style ceramic bearing from eBay seller "zone_305". These are 12 ceramic bearings housed in CNC'd solid brass and come with stainless steel liner washers for the bearing well in the frame. ZT's KVT system has only 7 bearings housed in nylon. The Taco system is smooth, perfect fit and finish, perfect centering. The KVT action is very smooth and the difference between the two in this regard is almost imperceptible. Maybe the Taco style is a tiny bit smoother, maybe.
The real benefit is the bearings roll on the stainless steel washers and NOT on the titanium frame. The KVT system rolls directly on the ti frame...not good. With the Taco system, lateral forces are distributed more evenly among greater number of bearings making a stronger pivot, and galling of the titanium frame is eliminated. That means the action will stay smooth and the blade will stay centered over the long term.
Another benefit, the ceramic bearings are nestled deeper in the brass housing compared to KVT's steel bearings in nylon. This reduces the gap between the blade and the bearing assembly which means it prevents debris from entering the pivot better than the KVT system. I've deliberately shoved my knife into beach sand and garden dirt. While fine debris can still enter, it is better than the KVT.
The best part, the maker sells extra stainless steel liner washers of varying thicknesses (he provided me a set of 4 thickness ranging from 0.32 to 0.42). Galling is inevitable over time, but now I can simply replace the washers IF that ever happens. Also having washers of varying thickness has given me an additional way of tuning action and centering. All of my knives fitted with this system are tuned to perfection. CAVEAT he lists the washers on eBay but doesn't clearly describe what you are getting. I thought I was buying a standard thickness but was happily surprised with the assortment. Not sure if he made a mistake or what. He also sells extra ceramic bearings.
I'm a Hinderer XM-18 fan and have several Gen 6s in my collection. I wish zone_305 will start making these for them, because at this point his system has elevated my ZT0562Ti above my best Hinderers. The action is so smooth, fast and crisp.
Last edited:
rileybassman1
Gold Member
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2012
- Messages
- 1,053
